Baby Names Inspired By Classic Audrey Hepburn Characters

As far as role models go, Audrey Hepburn will always be a figure to look up to. During her explosive film career in the 1950s and '60s, she set the long-lasting standard for elegance and sophistication, not just in her demeanor, but in her fashion too. Even in the 2020s, celebrities are still paying homage to Audrey Hepburn with their beauty and fashion looks. So she's the perfect person to name your baby after if you want to pass on that legacy. Audrey is the obvious name choice, but you could also get creative and choose a moniker based on the several characters she played in her lifetime. 

Hepburn was the face of romcoms and light-hearted flicks in Old Hollywood, so many of her characters have names that reflect a fairytale quality. Lots of them are sweet, pretty, and feminine, often being traditional without necessarily being boring or overdone. But the actor also explored roles in darker projects, particularly later in her career, dipping her toe into the world of psychological thrillers, so there's a huge range of character names to choose from. No matter the film, this is a great naming strategy for parents who would love an Old Hollywood-inspired baby name with glamorous energy. 

For die-hard fans of Audrey Hepburn, it might be best to choose an iconic name from one of her most well-known characters. Then there will be no doubt about who your baby was named after. But even for those who don't live and breathe the Belgian-born screen legend, there are quite a few character names that don't instantly make people think of Hepburn, and they might be best for something a little more subtle. Either way, Hepburn was a pop culture style icon you should let influence your wardrobe — and your baby name approach.

If you count yourself as a true fan of Audrey Hepburn, then you probably want to choose a baby name that people will associate with her. Apart from naming your daughter Audrey, you should go for her most famous characters, that even those who aren't huge fans would recognize. Of course, this starts with Holly. The character of Holly Golightly was the central protagonist in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and to this day, serves as the enduring image of the actor. When we think of Audrey Hepburn, we often imagine an LBD, opera gloves, pearls, classic sunglasses, and a chic updo, but this ensemble belongs to Holly Golightly more than Hepburn herself. Holly should definitely be a contender if you love Christmas or if you have your baby in December, too. 

The next name that's basically synonymous with Hepburn is Sabrina, which was both the title of the 1954 movie and its main character, Sabrina Fairchild. Fashion-wise, this was another pivotal role for the screen goddess, since the black-and-white dress made famous by the film went on to inspire several celebrities and famous figures. Thanks to TV's "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," this moniker has a witchy, whimsical feel to it for most modern ears, but it's actually thought to originate from the Arabic Sabri, which means "patience." 

And if you're looking for an Audrey Hepburn character that feels totally different from Sabrina Fairchild and Holly Golightly, look no further than Eliza Doolittle of "My Fair Lady." By the end of the musical, Eliza is transformed into a high-society lady, but she starts off as a lovable, down-to-earth flower merchant, perfect for parents who want a sweet and humble name. 

Audrey Hepburn's image evokes both sophistication and a certain whimsical feeling, but that doesn't mean her character names are all long and lyrical. If you like the idea of a monosyllable name that can't really be shortened, there are a few Hepburn characters to look towards, and the first is the leading lady of 1953's "Roman Holiday."

Ann is a classic, traditional name that works in any era, just like the Audrey Hepburn outfits that still feel so timeless. It's a vintage name, but there are girls of every generation with this moniker, whether it's a first or middle name. Plus, it has a regal quality, which makes sense, since Hepburn's character in "Roman Holiday" is a princess who flees the confines of her palace and loses herself in a magical love affair with a businessman in the Italian capital. Given that Ann is thought to have stemmed from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning both "grace" and "God has favored me," it's also considered a biblical name. If you love this name but want to tweak it, you could add an "E," the way the real Princess Anne of Britain's royal family spells it. 

The other monosyllable character name to consider is Eve, from "Young Wives' Tale." The 1951 flick, which was one of the acting legend's earliest, is set in the post-war period, where Hepburn's character, Eve Lester, moves in with two married couples with hilarious results. Of course, Eve is another biblical name belonging to the first woman in the Old Testament's Creation story. But whether people associate it with the bible or Hepburn's character, it packs a punch. "I honestly love Eve," one Redditor commented. "It's a short name, but a powerful one."

Although Audrey Hepburn is thought of as a British actor, she was actually born in Brussels, Belgium. Throughout her film career, she also frequently played European characters, so she's the perfect source of inspiration if you're looking for a name that has an old-world European quality, like Natasha Rostova from "War and Peace."

The 1956 drama is an adaptation of the 1865 novel of the same name by Leo Tolstoy. In it, Hepburn's character of Natasha is engaged to a prince before getting swept up into another love affair, in the end finding happiness after significantly growing as a character. Set in the time of Napoleon's invasion of Russia at the start of the 19th century, the film is full of characters with historical-sounding names. Of Russian and Roman origin, the name Natasha means "born on Christmas Day," making it ideal for babies born in December or for parents who love the holidays. You could also shorten this one to Tash or Nat to switch it up, although those tend to lose the "War and Peace" vibes.

Ariane is another European name you might want to add to your list, derived from the character of Ariane Chavasse in "Love in the Afternoon." In the 1957 movie, Hepburn plays the daughter of a detective and the love interest of Gary Cooper's protagonist, despite their age gap of nearly 30 years. With Greek, French, and Latin origins, the name comes from the mythological character Ariadne, a Cretan princess. Not as popular as the more commonplace Ariana — and also not the name of a famous pop star — Ariane hits the nail on the head if the assignment is a name that sounds both European and elegant.

Traditional and classic baby names definitely have staying power, but the one gripe that many people have with them is that they feel tired. Luckily, Audrey Hepburn played a few characters whose names have the best of both worlds; they're old in origin, but not overused. If Ann didn't work for you, keep reading!

In the 1964 comedy "Paris When it Sizzles," Hepburn — by then a bona fide star — portrayed Gabrielle Simpson, a screenwriter's assistant who acts out her boss' plot fantasies so he can overcome writer's block. Would this storyline pass the vibe check today? Probably not. But the name Gabrielle ticks the box for being tried and tested, without necessarily feeling dated or overdone. It has both French and Hebrew origins, derived from the biblical angel Gabriel, which happens to be a good boys' or even gender-neutral baby name you might not have considered. Gabrielle has been used for centuries, but it's steadily risen in popularity since the 1950s. This is definitely one of the vintage baby names you could make feel fresh in 2026.

Similarly, you might consider Regina, after the Hepburn character of Regina Lampert in "Charade." In the thriller, released in 1963, Regina is a woman whose husband stole a considerable fortune, leaving her with a target on her back. Notably used in the 2004 cult classic "Mean Girls" as central villain Regina George, the Latin name means "queen" and would be perfect for parents who want to channel that regal feel, or with hopes of raising a little queen bee. The moniker wasn't overly popular throughout the 20th century, which explains why it still feels fresh today despite dating back to at least the second century.

Some Audrey Hepburn character names feel much newer than the classics, and that's because they're actually shortened versions of longer names. These are good choices for parents who want a snappier and fresher-feeling name for their baby than the longer originals, which can feel like a bore. Susy Hendrix from the 1967 psychological thriller "Wait Until Dark" is a good example, since the sweet, girly name has a totally different energy from Susan, and certainly from Susannah.

Susy has Persian, Egyptian, and Hebrew roots and means "lily" but also "bright" or "cheerful": in other words, attributes any parent would want for their child! The name is also associated with the ancient city of Susa in Persia. It's fallen in popularity over the years and still does carry a vintage vibe, so your child might just be the only Susy in their class. You could play around with the spelling, too, whether you opt for Susie or Suzy. "I love Susie," one Redditor shared. "You don't hear that anymore in young girls."

Along these lines, you might also like the name Nora, from Hepburn's character in 1952's "Secret People." This short and pretty name has a few different roots, stemming from the Latin name Honora which is steeped in respect. Nora is also associated with Eleanor, which is much more common in modern society, and feels like a more contemporary version of this classic moniker. It's also quickly returning to the fore, landing at number 33 on The Bump's ranking of baby girl names, as decided by page views, in 2026. Though it's an old name, it's shaping up to be an unexpected trend of the 2020s.